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(Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)
Snow Troubles

Recent snowfall creating more problems for drivers and city crews

Feb 2, 2022 | 2:00 PM

Prince Albert drivers are being reminded to drive carefully when out and about across the city.

Road crews continue to clear the snow P.A. received from Monday’s blizzard; however, they’ve run out of spots to put it.

This is resulting in big piles being created along streets, causing some blind spots for people looking to merge into traffic.

Mayor Greg Dionne said they have no choice as the city has received a crazy amount of snow so far this season.

“Unfortunately, we are going to pile snow where we shouldn’t just until we can come back and get it and I just hope people can understand.”

He added P.A. needs just a few more inches to break a 30-year record for most snowfall during one season.

In the meantime, crews have been using the past two days to clear the snow off streets to ensure residents can still travel around the community.

As always, whenever there’s a snowfall, crews stop what they’re doing and focus their attention on clearing all top priority roads. This includes all the streets around Victoria Hospital and P.A.’s main arteries.

After all the roads are cleared, crews will focus their attention on the piles.

(Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

Dionne noted it may still be a while before they’re all gone, or at least lowered, as they don’t have the same number of crews working as they did during the past storm.

This is due to the private contractors, who ended up helping the city, having to go finish their other jobs.

“They got to go clean Canadian Tire, they got to go clear the malls, they all have private contracts,” added Dionne. “As soon as they’re available, done their private contracts, they make their equipment available to us.”

Meanwhile, the city is continuing to defend its crews.

Many have taken to social media to voice their issues with the work that’s been done.

Dionne explained there is over 240 kilometres of roads in P.A. that need to be cleared. During any snowfall, this takes time to complete.

Also, whenever P.A. receives any new snow, workers have to turn their attention away from residential streets and back to the priority ones.

Councillor Dennis Ogrodnick mentioned during Monday’s executive committee meeting he’s been quite impressed with the work crews have been doing, especially when it comes to removing the snow.

“I think we’re doing a lot more snow lifts than we’ve ever had. The number… is quite remarkable.”

The city is asking for the public to be patient as crews will get to their streets as soon as they can.

Jaryn.Vecchio@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow